Empathy

Empathy and human contact may be the most important thing that people still in custody receive from the investigator. The investigation itself may contribute nothing of specific benefit to the person being interviewed, as in most cases their torture will be over. The meagre consolation of knowing that the information may serve a future purpose will however be greatly enhanced if the investigator shows appropriate empathy. While this may seem self-evident, all too often investigators in actual prison visits are so concerned about obtaining information that they fail to empathize with the prisoner being interviewed.